History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c31.4

v1.c31.4

But if a temple had to be constructed in the plains, a foundation equal in depth to the height of the adhiṣṭhāna (base) had to be dug which normally varied from 6 to 8 ft. A foundation pit, coextensive with the dimensions of the temple, was dug and filled with bricks, earth and sand and packed tight by being stamped down by the trampling of elephants and heavy logs of wood. The horizontality of the foundation bed was maintained by measuring water level and after compacted bed reached a reasonable height the initial mouldings of *upapīṭha* and *pīṭha* resting on one to three plain slab-courses were constructed. Usually the *upapīṭha* was concealed under the ground and only the *pīṭha* was fully or partly visible above the ground and this supported the main mouldings of the base proper (*vedibandha* or *adhiṣṭhāna*).